Art Director for both 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' franchises, Les Dilley, passes away at the age of 84.
Art Director Legend Les Dilley, 84, Dies After Decade-Long Battle with Alzheimer's
Bid farewell to the legendary art director and production designer, Les Dilley, who passed away on May 20 at the ripe age of 84 following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Born on July 11, 1941, in Rhondda, Wales, Dilley commenced his film career at a tender age of 15, embarking on a construction and plastering apprenticeship at Associated British Picture Corporation. At 23, he worked as a plasterer on 'From Russia With Love', then as an assistant art director on 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Kelly's Heroes'. His breakthrough came in 1973 when he was an art director for 'Three Musketeers' and its sequel, leading him to join the UK team for 'Star Wars: A New Hope', where he created the physical builds for R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder.
His impressive resume continued to grow with direct art for its sequel, 'Empire Strikes Back', 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Alien', 'Superman', and 'An American Werewolf in London'. His production designer credits include 'The Abyss', 'Exorcist III', 'Invaders From Mars', 'Casper', 'Black Knight', and 'Deep Impact'. Though 'Abyss' and 'Empire' each earned him Oscar nominations, 'New Hope' and 'Raiders' earned him wins for Best Art direction, both shared with fellow art director Norman Reynolds, who passed away in 2023.
In 2017, Dilley retired after working as a production designer on the British kids' show 'Teacup Travels'. In 2020, the British Academy Cymru Awards honored him with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award. On the occasion, he was praised by the likes of George Lucas, Ridley Scott, and others who'd worked with him over the years.
Dilley leaves behind his wife Leslie and five children. In a statement, the family noted that his legacy "lives on in the many iconic films he helped bring to life for over six decades and in his family home he personally built as an homage to his work. His love for the motion picture business was evident to the very end. In addition to his incredible work ethic, quirky British humor, and love of life, he was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He will be greatly missed."
So here's a toast to Les Dilley, the mastermind behind some of the most iconic films in cinema history[5][3][2].
In case you're craving more sci-fi, fantasy, and action updates, check out the latest news on the future of 'Doctor Who', 'Marvel', 'Star Wars', 'DC Universe', and 'Star Trek'.
Did You Know?- Les Dilley won two Oscars for best art direction for 'Star Wars: A New Hope' (1977) and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981).- He is recognized for his enduring legacy in film, contribution to dozens of classic projects, and hands-on approach to both film and home building, which he saw as an extension of his artistry[5].- Dilley's work on the iconic films such as 'Alien' (1979), 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980), 'Superman' (1978), and 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981) significantly shaped their visual identity[5].- He spent his last years as a production designer on the award-nominated children’s TV series 'Teacup Travels'[4].- Before his passing, Dilley built his family home as a tribute to his lifelong journey in art and film[5].
Les Dilley's future legacy in the movie industry is solidified by his two Oscar wins for 'Star Wars: A New Hope' in 1977 and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' in 1981. His contributions to films like 'Alien' (1979), 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980), 'Superman' (1978), and 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981) significantly shaped their visual identity. On the other hand, Gizmodo, io9, and Movies-and-TV offer exciting updates on the future of sci-fi, fantasy, and action, including 'Doctor Who', 'Marvel', 'Star Wars', 'DC Universe', and 'Star Trek', for those seeking more movie news.
